Coyotes' Michalek adjusting to Olympic role

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — There are no easy games in the Olympic men's hockey tournament, and there is no easy way for Zbynek Michalek to sit and watch them.

The Phoenix Coyotes defenseman and his Czech Republic countrymen survived a scare from Latvia in the opening round of elimination play Tuesday night. The 3-2 overtime win at UBC Thunderbird Arena earned the Czechs a quarterfinal meeting with Finland at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The Czech Republic, 5-2 winners over Latvia in round-robin play, bolted to a 2-0 lead Tuesday off a fat, 16-4 advantage in shots in the first period. Latvia, behind iron-clad goaltender Edgars Masalskis, steadied in the second and made a game of it in the third.

"It's not fun when you keep a team around," Michalek said. "We had so many chances but we couldn't get the third one. They scored one, and they were all over the ice after it."

Michalek wasn't, however. "He played a tournament low 8 minutes, 8 seconds in the victory. He was on the ice just 24 seconds in the third period and none in the overtime as Czech coach Vladimir Ruzicka shortened his bench.

That's difficult for one of the Coyotes' ironmen. He leads Phoenix in minutes played at an even 23 per game. He logged 30:01 during a game in December.

"It's frustrating a little bit, obviously, but we're here as a team. I'm part of a team, and whatever role coach gives me I'm fine with it," he said. "Some games, I play more, some I play less. Whatever is decided, I go along.

"We have a good group of guys, and the personal egos have to go on the sides for these two weeks, I think."
Michalek was on the ice for the Czechs' second goal Tuesday and is even in plus-minus through four games. He mostly has been paired with Miroslav Blatak, one of seven non-NHL players on the Czech roster.

Finland and Coyotes teammate Sami Lepisto come next.

"It's going to be fun to see him on the other side," Michalek said. "They're a good team; it's going to be a battle. It's fun to be part of, and we are looking forward to it."

Feb. 17, 2010: Slovakia's Tomas Kopecky (82) and Czech Repubulic's Zbynek Michalek battle for the puck along the boards during a preliminary round hockey game at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Czech Republic won 3-1.